AfriGeneas Genealogy and History Forum

The Ride

The Ride of the 19th Day 1865

Granger was a union man riding with his troops
On to Galveston he cried
As he raised his sword
Twirling and twirling swiftly through the Texas air
Already decreed throughout the land
Free was one of the words he had to share

But not in The Lone Star State
Bent breaking whip scared backs
Working their fingers to the bone
Two years added to this awful fate
It just did not see fair

*I've been in the Storm too long*

The words first heard was
Whereas on the 18th day of September 1863
Perhaps one or two of my ancestors
May have heard Lincoln's Plea

So Granger got his orders to get there right away
It is now June of 1865
For slaves still have shakles around their legs
Rusty yokes around their necks
Those Rebellious States wanted to keep slavery alive

* Father I stretch my hand to thee for no other help I know*

Men and women boys and girls
Subjected to doom and gloom
Spank those horses harder he cried
We must get there soon

His saddlebag is weighted down
Rightly so, with a paper that is rolled
In the form of a proclamation
Emancipating I am told

Somewhere around two hundred fifty thousand
Enslaved on plantations they would say
That will be historical on the 19th day of June
When Lincoln has his way

So on through Texas he is bound reaching
Galveston town by the sea
His trumpeter blew his horn
Announcing for all to hear and see

* I Need Thee, Oh I Need Thee*

Boldly mounted on his horse
Loudly Granger then did read
General Order Number three
To the People of Texas be informed
All the slaves are free!

*Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen*

So Joseph White released those great great grands of mine
Mary White, Louis Cooper, Sallie for their were two
One was Jefferson, the other White, Nelms to name a few
Williams and Williams in San Jacinto, Brazos and Grimes
Had to hear the breaking news at a later time

*Oh Mary Don't You Weep*

Way up in Marshall in Harrison County
I still had Ancestor Grands
Names like Dickerson, Taylor and Ware
Burks, Norris, Wells, and Spanns

God Bless them forever for their shoulders
They were strong
As I stand upon them, just maybe I can pass
Enderaing strength to those lineages I helped to create
For all eternity they shall last.